Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage in those countries that have ratified it.

lord ashton of hyde: We have made no such assessment.

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional funds to monitor and protect shipwrecks in the Exclusive Economic Zone as required by Article 9 of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

lord ashton of hyde: The United Kingdom has not ratified the Convention and it is not obliged to comply with its Articles. Government has however adopted the principles set out in its Annex as best practice in the archaeological and cultural management of underwater sites and artefacts. The National Maritime Information Service also actively monitors maritime activity around the UK and can track or monitor suspicious activity around wreck sites, if there is a need to do so.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Ports

baroness blood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Brexit referendum result, what assessment they have made of the case for training overseas port health officers to UK standards, especially those in developing countries; andwhat partthe Association of Port Health Authoritieswill play in delivering such training.

lord bates: The International Health Regulations (IHRs) (2005), agreed by all WHO member states, include the standards required for port health authorities internationally. WHO has oversight of IHR assessment and capacity building, including through the external evaluation approach introduced in 2016. The UK Government, through the WHO, assists countries to carry out assessments and implement the IHRs. As part of this, the UK deploys (a) subject matter experts to support WHO monitoring of IHR capacity in 20 low and middle-income countries, including in points of entry such as ports, and (b) implements programmes to strengthen IHR capabilities in five countries in Africa and Asia, plus the UK Overseas Territories. We will always consider the most appropriate subject matter experts to support our global health security interventions.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Finance

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have for international cooperation to make good the deficit on the current budget of the UN High Commissioner For Refugees; and in particular, how they intend to ensure that measures are taken to prevent deaths of refugees in Lebanon, from cold or starvation, this winter.

lord bates: The UK remains a leading supporter of the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2017, the UK provided $141 million to help support millions of refugees and those forcibly displaced across the world. In the same year, UNHCR received $36.6 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), the rapid response fund for humanitarian emergencies, to which the UK remains the largest donor.Since the start of the Syria crisis in 2012, DFID has provided £181 million to UNHCR for Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons inside Syria. Of this, £87.5 million has been provided to UNHCR in Lebanon to provide relief items (including throughout winter), cash support, as well as medicines, water and support to acquire civil documentation. Overall, DFID has allocated £543 million in humanitarian and development funding to Lebanon, including for improving sub-standard shelters so refugees have a warm and secure roof over their heads. This also includes a £77 million programme with the World Food Programme to provide the most in-need refugee families in Lebanon with monthly cash transfers to meet their food and basic needs.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fracking: Licensing

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether responsibility for the procedure for issuing Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences for hydraulic fracturing was removed from the Department of Energy and Climate Change and passed to the Oil and Gas Authority; and, if so, why.

lord henley: In June 2013 the then Secretary of State for Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) asked Sir Ian Wood to conduct an independently led review of UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) oil and gas recovery, specifically looking at how economic recovery could be maximised. A key recommendation of the Wood Review was the creation of a new independent body, responsible for operational regulation of the UKCS, focused on supervising the licensing process and maximising economic recovery of the UK’s offshore oil and gas reserves in the short, medium and long terms. Given the many synergies with aspects of the regulation of onshore oil and gas activities (including shale gas) the Review also highlighted the strong rationale for a single regulator to manage the licensing regime for onshore reserves as well. On the basis of these recommendations, the Oil and Gas Authority assumed responsibility for all licensing functions related to offshore and onshore oil and gas in October 2016. In accordance with the Smith Commission Agreement and St David’s Day Agreement and the resulting Scotland Act 2016 and Wales Act 2017, we are currently in the process of making and laying regulations, which will transfer powers for onshore oil and gas licensing within Scotland and Wales to the Scottish and Welsh Governments respectively. The responsibility for onshore oil and gas licensing in England will remain with the Oil and Gas Authority.

Fracking: Licensing

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria the Oil and Gas Authorityusesin granting Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences for hydraulic fracturing.

lord henley: Before a company can carry out exploration for oil and gas onshore it needs to apply to the Oil and Gas Authority for a Petroleum Exploration & Development Licence (PEDL). PEDLs do not give permission for operations. Rather, they grant exclusivity to licensees, in relation to hydrocarbon exploration and extraction (including for shale gas but also for other forms), within a defined area. The key criteria considered when assessing licence applications are the proposed operator’s competency, financial viability and financial capacity.

Furniture: Fire Resistant Materials

the countess of mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of Professor Richard Hull, published in Chemosphere, that the application of flame retardants "makes furniture burn more quickly, reaching higher temperatures and producing vastly more toxic smoke" when tested in real life environments; and whether theyintend topromote the use of flame retardant-free materials.

lord henley: Public protection remains the Government’s priority and it is committed to improving both fire safety and environmental outcomes. We are aware of the findings of Professor Hull’s paper and they are being considered alongside the evidence from the public consultation and the advice of an Advisory Panel, comprising leading fire safety experts and departmental Chief Scientific Advisors. The Government response to the consultation on the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations will be published in due course.

Audit

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 22 December 2017 (HL4283), what assessment they have made of (1) the sufficiency of the independence of the Financial Reporting Council from the accounting industry to monitor the provision of auditing services in accordance with the EU Audit Regulation, and (2) whether conflicts of interest are managed in a way that encourages confidence in audit quality.

lord henley: The Government regularly reviews the governance arrangements of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) prior to any additional delegation of the Secretary of State’s functions or as part of implementing regulatory changes. Most recently in preparation for the implementation of the new EU Audit Directive and Regulation, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) made changes to make sure that its governance arrangements met the enhanced requirements of the new Directive and Regulation. The FRC has implemented a number of the recommendations made by the Competition Commission in 2013 on the reporting of its audit inspection findings and has made other changes to improve the transparency of that process. These changes contribute to confidence in the quality of the audit regulatory system and therefore in the quality of the audits as a whole.

Innovation

lord bird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Professor Mariana Mazzucato's recent evaluation of innovation-led growth and strategic public investment.

lord henley: Government does not tend to undertake assessments or comment on independent work such as that undertaken by Professor Mazzucato.Innovation is about new ideas, new ways of doing things, new goods and services and new technologies that are central to driving productivity and a key driver of our modern Industrial Strategy.Our Industrial Strategy will enable the UK to work more productively and boost earning power of people, businesses and places and the nation as a whole. To support UK priorities in key areas of innovation we will invest a further £725m in a second wave of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, turning our research into global industrial and commercial leads. We will ensure that the UK is the best pace for innovators and through our Grand Challenges we will invite business, academia and civil society to work together to innovate and develop new technologies.We have committed to raise investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027; we will invest an additional £2.3bn in 2021, raising total public investment in R&D to approximately £12.5bn. Increasing public R&D spending as a share of GDP each year and making a total increase of £7bn over five years. This will be the biggest ever increase in public funding R&D.

UK Trade with EU

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to offer any assurances to those industries that received notification from the European Commission, in December 2017, of the lack of an automatic right to operate in the single market, and the potential termination of operating licences, following Brexit.

lord henley: The UK Government is confident that a future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides, and approaches negotiations anticipating success. A no deal outcome is not sought or expected. However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. Plans have been developed and designed to provide flexibility to respond to a negotiated agreement as well as preparing us if we leave without a deal.So the Government is working with businesses across the economy to provide the information they need to understand the challenges and opportunities they may face in the coming months and years.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Islamic State: Crimes against Humanity

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter published by the government of the Netherlands on 22 December 2017 stating that Daesh has, in all likelihood, committed genocide and crimes against humanity, and that, in the absence of any international determination of genocide, governments and Parliaments should determine its actions as such.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government condemns Daesh crimes. The Government maintains that genocide should be a matter for judicial authorities rather than a political decision, and agrees with the Netherlands Government which has stated its full support for the need to focus on prevention. The UK has led the international campaign to bring Daesh to justice through UN Security Council Resolution 2379, which mandates a special advisor to set up a team to investigate and collect evidence of Daesh crimes, starting in Iraq.

Israel: USA

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what communications they have had with Mahmoud Abbas since the announcement by the government of the United States of its intention to relocate the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East reaffirmed the UK’s long-standing position on Jerusalem when they met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki on 8 January.

Syria: Peace Negotiations

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, also known as Rojava, is represented at future peace talks on Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: There is Kurdish representation at Syrian peace negotiations in Geneva through the Kurdish National Council, which has a role within the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission. Invitations for any other groups to the Geneva peace negotiations are a matter for the UN Special Envoy for Syria. The UN Envoy has involved Kurdish and other minority groups in civil society discussions alongside formal negotiations in Geneva.We maintain that any political settlement must be inclusive. All Syrian constituencies must ultimately be represented in discussion on Syria's future – this is a key principle in the 2012 Geneva communique and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Syria: Politics and Government

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) diplomatic, (2) military, and (3) humanitarian,training and supportthey have provided to the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, also known as Rojava,in the last two years.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We maintain political and diplomatic contact with a number of Kurdish groups to influence their policy and work towards a political solution to the conflict, encouraging commitment to pluralism and pressing for cooperation with the wider Syrian opposition. We have used our occasional contact with the PYD to express concern over reports of human rights abuses by its associated security forces and over links with both the Assad regime and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).The UK does not provide any direct assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (YPG) or the Democratic Union Party (PYD). As part of the Global Coalition, we have provided military support including airstrikes to the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG are a contingent part, in the campaign to remove Daesh from Eastern Syria. We have also provided humanitarian and limited stabilisation support to address the immediate needs of the local population in Eastern Syria.

Pakistan: Churches

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan following the attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta on 17 December 2017; and what response they have received to anysuch representations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government strongly condemns all terrorist attacks. The attack on the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta last month was a sad reminder of the terrorist threat confronting the people of Pakistan and minority communities in particular. I expressed my condolences to all those affected by this abhorrent attack at the time. We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level.  The UK continues to stand with Pakistan in tackling the shared threat from terrorism and extremism and addressing the root causes.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a report by the Palestine Red Cross Crescent Society and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights that the Israeli military aremaking "indiscriminate use of excessive and disproportionate force against Palestinian civilians" following the announcement by the government of the United States that it would move its Israeli Embassy to Jerusalem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not made any assessment of this specific report, we repeatedly make clear to the Israeli authorities our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the Israel Defense Forces police the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we have advocated swift, transparent investigations.

Jerusalem

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the legislation before the Parliament of Israel that would set a high threshold for any future vote on ceding parts of Jerusalem to Palestinians.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned that the recently passed amendment to the Basic Law makes the prospects of meaningful and peaceful progress towards a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, more difficult.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the conditions necessaryto enable a viable and secure Palestine to exist alongside a secure Israel, following recent developments.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Our longstanding policy in support of a two-state solution remains clear. We support a negotiated settlement based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees.

Government Communications Centre

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the management of HM Government Communications Centre, in particular of whether (1) clear management guidelines and objectives are issued, (2) employees are enabled to work towards those objectives without undue bureaucracy, (3) financial management is adequate and ensures minimal waste of public money, and (4) resources are fully utilised.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We welcome the recent announcement by the Ethiopian Prime Minister on reforms to open up political dialogue, including the planned release of some imprisoned politicians. The British Government is in close contact with the Ethiopian authorities to seek more information on what this will mean in practice, including for British nationals currently imprisoned in Ethiopia. The UK has repeatedly raised human rights concerns with the Ethiopian government, including around the arrest and imprisonment of people for their political views.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Officers

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 30 November 2017 (HL3468), 12 December 2017 (HL3864), and 19 December 2017 (HL4126), what other changes have been made to the agreed five-star privileges accorded to former Heads of Service; and whether those changes weremade through an Order in Council.

earl howe: We have made no changes to the agreed five-star privileges accorded to the former Heads of Service, further to those I provided in my Written Answers on 30 November 2017 (HL3468), 12 December 2017 (HL3864), and 19 December 2017 (HL4126).



HL3468 - Military Decorations
(Word Document, 12.84 KB)




HL3864 - Armed Forces Officers
(Word Document, 12.79 KB)




HL4126 - Military Decorations
(Word Document, 13.06 KB)

HMS Ocean

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a decision regarding the future of HMS Ocean has been put on hold until the work of the National Security Adviser is complete.

earl howe: HMS OCEAN entered service in 1998 with a specific service life of 20 years. In the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, the decision was taken not to extend her service life and she would, therefore, decommission during 2018 as planned.Discussions with the Government of Brazil about the sale of OCEAN are ongoing, but no decisions have been made.

Navy: Recruitment

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to remove the statement for the Royal Navy to "Fight and Win" found in naval recruitment literature.

earl howe: Ready to 'Fight and Win' remains a key ethos of the Naval Service and there are no plans to change that.